Roof and pillar construction for automobile bodies



May 12, 1931. F. J. KUBLER ROOF AND PILLAR CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 928

I I x z fnvenzor: Eederiok JKuEZen y 1931. F. J. KUBLER 1,805,461

ROOF AND PILLAR CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES Filed Aug. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Massachusetts, and-includes .adrop forged Patented MaylZ, 1931 UNITED sures PATENT orrice rnnnnnicxa. KUBLER, or NEW ORK; 1v. Y., Assreiroa r A. CAMPBELL oo rANY; or is 1 EAsrBosToN, MASSACHUSETTS,ACOEPOBATIGN or IaAss c UsEr'rse R00]? AND PILLAR CONSTRUCTION FOE AUTOMOBILE BODIES Application filed August 22, 192a serial No. aoiszs.

' This invention relates to automobile bodies andthe object is to provide such a construction thereof including an'improved connection of the roof rails to the body pillars.

The invention finds a particular application to automobiles in which the body pillars are ofmetal. i o. i v The invention will be well understood from the "following description of a single illusitrative embodiment shown by way of exam ple in the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated a construction embodying a slidingwindshield to" whichgthe invention is particularly adapted although to which it is not limited; f I I In the drawings v; 1 c I r Fig.1 is a perspective of the upper endof a body pillar and the adjacent roof rails-with parts'broken away; Fig. 2 is a section through the front of the Vehicle body in the plane of the line 2- 2 of Fig. l with parts broken away;

a e Fig. & is a section on theline H'of Fig.1. By way of example of my invention I have herein shown a closed automobile body hav; ing a metallic body pillar at the forward cor ner. The pillar herein show n'fisofthe type designed by Raymond Galpin of Everett,

body 5 incorporated (see Fig.9) with the framing .7 adjacent the cowl of the vehicle and supporting the roof and also includesa die-cast finishing piece 9 providing the ex posedsurfaces of the pillar as a wholein casting 9 fits over the web 15; is secured in position by the screws 19 and is provided with the, Completed body. The main portion of the forging 5 consists of a transverselydisposed web and at its upper end it may bethickened forwardly at 11 to accommodate the hinge mortise 13 at the rear side and it may be provided along its forward facewith a rib 15, defi'ningwith theweb'a rabbet'to receive the windshield 17o (seeFigrir); In the em-: bodiment of the invention shown the die an extension ,or'flange 2l,completing1the channel in which the windshield slides;

, Referring to Fig.1, the side roof rail 23 Fig. 3 is a section on th l ne ofF away,as indicated at35. I prefer,

and having a vertical flange 29 against which the inner side of'the rail 23 rests, the rail being secured by suitablebolts in its seat in .inember having ahorizontalfiange 27 rest.- ing on andwelded to the top of the pillar 5 the angle. The, front rail 25 rests on and is secured bysuitable boltsv to a bracket-like vertical plate 81, the outer end of'whichoverlies the front faceof thepillar 5, herein on the thickened portionll, and is welded thereto in a vertical joint of suitable, depth." The fiangeZQand-the plate 31 maybe bent-tintegrally from a web 33 constituting the third face of the trihedral angle and lying in asub- Y stantially horizontal plane. and tying togetherffiange 29 and plate 31 in the manner V ofagusset;

To permit the-dg Of'the' ndshield to pass initselevatedposition in the case ofa j sliding. windshieldoas herein, portions of the flanges 27 and 29of1the angularum ember which receives the side roof rail may be out however, toprovideanextension 37 of the horizontal flange 27 reaching to and welded to plate 31 atthejoint39. d H

The roof elementsare securely fastened to the pillar '5 and alllelementsof the corner construction are mutuallyinterbraced in the most efiective manner. The gusset plate 33 being secured to" the upper edge of vertical; flange 29. of the angle ,which'receives the side roof rail remote from the jointof the horizontal; flange 127 with the top of the pillar acts through a favorable leverarm? tor resist twistinggstrains on this joint and the strain is transmitted through the :plate 31, to the long and substantial; j oint between said latter'plate andthe front of the pillar.

A 'sliding windshield is herein shownfand aregulator board ll (see FigsQ and 4),i s provided parallel to-thefront rail Herein SI show a support forsuch a regulator board contributingto: the stability of the structure and taking the form of'a plate 43 to which the end of the board is screwed and which fits into the angle between the web 33 and the vetical flange 29. This plate may be provided with an integral stud 45 riveted and welded to web 33 and at its outer edge is joined by a welded seam at 47 to the flange 29. The plate extends downwardly below flange 27 and lies in the plane of the main web of the pillar 5 and is seamed thereto by welding 49along the inner edge of the pillar. The plate 29 thus serves as a bracket, aiding in the support of the entire structure from the main structural member, to wit, the pillar 5, and also serves as an effectual reinforcement between web 33 and the angle 27-29 contributing to the rigidity of the structure as a whole.

- The opening 51 shown in the plate 43 in Fig. 4 is provided to permit the passage of tools to obtain access to one of the bolts utilized in fastening front rail 25 and the openings 53 in flange 29 provide access to the wood of rail 23 to permit interior trimming to be secured thereto.

' I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes theieo and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being bad to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the sco e of the'invention.

aims: 1. In an automobile body construction in combination with a body pillar, an angle res top of the pillar, a vertical web to receive the ceiving the roof side rail and having its horizontal flange resting on and secured to the roof front rail lapping on and secured to the front of the pillar, and a substantially horizontal web connecting said front rail web and the upright flange of said angle.

2. In an automobile body construction in combination with a body pillar, an angle receiving the roof side rail and having its horizontal flange resting on and secured to the top of the pillar, a vertical web to receive the roof front rail lapping on and secured to the front of the pillar, a substantially horizontal web connecting said front rail web and the upright flange of said angle, and a member for supporting a windshield regulator board bridging the angle between said web and flange;

3. In an automobile body construction in combinationwith a body pillar, an angle receiving the roof side rail and having its horizontal flange resting on and secured to the top of the pillar, a vertical web'to receive the roof front rail lapping on and secured a to the front of the pillar, a substantially horizontal web connecting said front rail web and the upright flange of said angle, and a member for supporting a windshield regulator board bridging the angle between said web and flange and depending to provide an outer edge lying along the inner side of the pillar.

4. In an automobile body construction in combination with a body pillar, a roof rail anchor of sheet metal forming a trihedral angle having faces to receive the roof front and side rails and a web tying them together, said faces having extensions contacting with and secured to the top-supporting pillar.

5. A roof rail anchor of sheet metal forming a trihedral angle having faces to receive the roof front and side rails and a web tying them together, said faces having extensions to contact with and be secured to the topsupporting pillar, a support for a windshield regulator board parallel to one of said faces and tying together the other face and said web, said angle being cut awa in part to receive the edge of the windshield 6. In an automobile body construction in combination with a metallic body pillar, an inwardly extending bracket-like plate socured to the forward face of said pillar for supporting the front roof rail, a plate having its edge abutting and seamed to the inner face of said pillar, and a substantially horizontal web tying together the upper edges of said plates. I I

7. In an automobile body construction in combination witha metallic body pillar, an angular support at the top of the pillar for re: ceiving and embracing the top side rail, 0. bracket-like, substantially vertical web secured to the pillar and extending from adjacentthe, front face thereof below thev top thereof to provide for attachment of the front top rail,'and means tying together said web and angle whereby the latter is secured to the pillar by a connection of substantial vertical depth.

8. In an automobile body construction in combination with a metallic body pillar, an angular support for the top side rail having a horizontal flange at the top of the pillar and an upstanding flange, a bracket-like, substantially vertical web extending from adjacent the front face of the pillar below the top thereof to provide for attachment of the front top rail, and means tying together said web and upstanding flange whereby said angular support is braced at a point remote from its junction with the pillar.

9. In an automobile body construction in combustion with a metallic body pillar, a support extending rearwardly from the top thereof to receive the roof side rail, a plate extending inwardly adjacent the front thereof to supportcthe roof front rail, said parts having spaced portions defining an opening aligned with the inner face of the pillarinto which a sliding windshield may move in its v raised position, and a substantially horizonreaiwardly of said opening.

tel Web bridging the angle between "said parts and tying them together inwardly and t In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. v

FREDERICK J. KUBLER-L 

